I'm sorry...another tipping question.

[bling19572010]

To preface my question....I am a great tipper if it is deserving. Our current cruise confirmation for the Oasis does not show that any tips have been added and we do not want tips automatically added. I understand that as soon I board the Oasis I need to go to customer service and tell them that I DO NOT want the tips automatically added...but my question is....I have an OBC, can I use that to apply to the tips at the end of my cruise? Thank you.

[celebrity]

To preface my question....I am a great tipper if it is deserving. Our current cruise confirmation for the Oasis does not show that any tips have been added and we do not want tips automatically added. I understand that as soon I board the Oasis I need to go to customer service and tell them that I DO NOT want the tips automatically added...but my question is....I have an OBC, can I use that to apply to the tips at the end of my cruise? Thank you.

 

Yes, you can. Happy sails!

[FLACRUISER99]

To preface my question....I am a great tipper if it is deserving. Our current cruise confirmation for the Oasis does not show that any tips have been added and we do not want tips automatically added. I understand that as soon I board the Oasis I need to go to customer service and tell them that I DO NOT want the tips automatically added...but my question is....I have an OBC, can I use that to apply to the tips at the end of my cruise? Thank you.

Yes, you can use OBC for tips.

[leaveitallbehind]

To preface my question....I am a great tipper if it is deserving. Our current cruise confirmation for the Oasis does not show that any tips have been added and we do not want tips automatically added. I understand that as soon I board the Oasis I need to go to customer service and tell them that I DO NOT want the tips automatically added...but my question is....I have an OBC, can I use that to apply to the tips at the end of my cruise? Thank you.

 

Any gratuities paid on board can be done so by way of your OBC.

 

They only way they would have been pre-paid is if My Time Dining was elected by you, at which point they would have been paid with final payment.

 

Otherwise they are automatically added to you SeaPass account on a daily basis unless as you indicate you have guest services remove them.

Edited August 2, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[cruisenfever]

To preface my question....I am a great tipper if it is deserving. Our current cruise confirmation for the Oasis does not show that any tips have been added and we do not want tips automatically added. I understand that as soon I board the Oasis I need to go to customer service and tell them that I DO NOT want the tips automatically added...but my question is....I have an OBC, can I use that to apply to the tips at the end of my cruise? Thank you.

IF you leave your tips go to Auto Tip Daily, then yes, your OBC will absorb the per day gratuity charge.

 

If it is refundable OBC, and you want to personally hand your gratuities out, then you can cash your OBC out the afternoon prior to debarkation. If it is non refundable OBC, you can cash it out in the casino, but you will be charged a 5% service charge.

Edited August 2, 2014 by cruisenfever

[cb at sea]

That's right...if you take the OBC as cash, it will cost you!

[cello56]

Just remember, the easiest way to ensure that everyone that is providing you with service is tipped, is to leave the auto tips on, and then tip extra to those who go above and beyond for you. In almost 20 cruises we have NEVER had occasion to feel that the auto tips were not earned.

[celebrity]

Just remember, the easiest way to ensure that everyone that is providing you with service is tipped, is to leave the auto tips on, and then tip extra to those who go above and beyond for you. In almost 20 cruises we have NEVER had occasion to feel that the auto tips were not earned.

 

Absolutely! The staff go above and beyond. They earn every cent of auto tips and that's why we give additional cash in a thank you note.

[Marie51]

To preface my question....I am a great tipper if it is deserving. Our current cruise confirmation for the Oasis does not show that any tips have been added and we do not want tips automatically added. I understand that as soon I board the Oasis I need to go to customer service and tell them that I DO NOT want the tips automatically added...but my question is....I have an OBC, can I use that to apply to the tips at the end of my cruise? Thank you.

 

You don't have to go to customer service as soon as you board. Actually you can do it anytime. I just went in the middle of my cruise and had the auto tips removed because I prefer to give cash.

You can use your OBC to buy stuff in the gift shops, at the spa, drinks, etc.

[heyabbott]

Absolutely! The staff go above and beyond. They earn every cent of auto tips and that's why we give additional cash in a thank you note.

 

 

Without starting a skirmish I was wondering what your definition of above and beyond means. What anybody's definition of above and beyond means. My wife and I are very accommodating travellers, about the only request we tend to make anywhere is extra towels, we'll shower 2-3 times a day and maybe an extra pillow.

 

What does the staff and crew have to do go beyond what they are supposed to do?

 

 

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[gerif]

That's right...if you take the OBC as cash, it will cost you!

 

Only if it's non-refundable. If it's refundable it won't cost a thing.

[delirious9876]

Don't forget they get paid, get board and lodgings and get auto tips from lots of other passengers as well.

 

Going above and beyond to me is what you do in any job and you shouldn't expect to be paid or tipped more then the 'usual'.

[FLACRUISER99]

This may be hard for some folks to understand but I leave extra tips because I want to. Not because RCI doesn't pay them well or any other excuse folks come up with.

[Life is Good Cruising]

this may be hard for some folks to understand but i leave extra tips because i want to. Not because rci doesn't pay them well or any other excuse folks come up with.

 

 

like!

[delirious9876]

This may be hard for some folks to understand but I leave extra tips because I want to. Not because RCI doesn't pay them well or any other excuse folks come up with.

It isn't hard to understand :-)

 

We all have choices and can do as we like with our hard earned/inherited/won/gifted/etc. money.

 

As mine is hard earned I choose not to stiff people but to tip an 'expected amount' so I can afford maybe some other luxuries in life.

 

Out of interest Would you tip extra than what would be classed as a usually accepted tip for a housekeeper in a hotel if they went 'above and beyond'?

 

(i.e. Just someone who is just good at their job and enjoys doing more than maybe others ??)

[heyabbott]

This may be hard for some folks to understand but I leave extra tips because I want to. Not because RCI doesn't pay them well or any other excuse folks come up with.

 

 

That's great and I'm not looking to start I flame war. I know why I leave a 25% tip or more in a restaurant, and why I'll only leave 15%. Why would someone, not necessarily you, leave a double tip? What do banquet servers and hotel housekeeping do for people to consider over tipping?

 

 

 

 

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[delirious9876]

That's great and I'm not looking to start I flame war. I know why I leave a 25% tip or more in a restaurant, and why I'll only leave 15%. Why would someone, not necessarily you, leave a double tip? What do banquet servers and hotel housekeeping do for people to consider over tipping?

 

 

 

 

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I agree totally :-)

[celebrity]

Without starting a skirmish I was wondering what your definition of above and beyond means. What anybody's definition of above and beyond means. My wife and I are very accommodating travellers, about the only request we tend to make anywhere is extra towels, we'll shower 2-3 times a day and maybe an extra pillow.

 

What does the staff and crew have to do go beyond what they are supposed to do?

 

 

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Last year I took my first Med cruise. If you've ever had the experience, you know it is port intensive where you are off the ship for 10 or more hours when in port.

 

The highlight of the trip for me was finally getting to see the Vatican. The night before, I saw my cabin steward and told her I was so excited and fearful that I wouldn't wake up in time to be off the ship at 7:30 as I was so exhausted. I told her I had my travel alarm and a wake up call on my phone so I wouldn't oversleep. Five minutes before the alarm was to go off, she called me with the sweetest voice, wished me a good morning and a wonderful day in Rome.

I literally started to cry at her thoughtfulness because I had also shared that this trip was a promise I made to my mother who is now deceased.

 

I was so grateful, that upon my return, I wrote a letter commending her for her thoughtfulness and turned it into Guest Relations. The following day she saw me and with tears in her eyes, told me my letter was read at their staff meeting and she was given a Visa Gift card from the Captain. The letter was also posted on I 95 for the staff to see.

 

Another cruise, I was in Grand Cayman and missed applying sufficient sunscreen on my feet.

Returning to my cabin, I was limping and wincing in pain when my cabin steward saw me and asked if he could assist. I told him I would be fine once I elevated my feet and applied the aloe I brought with me.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door and he arrived with a large bucket of ice water with vinegar in it and a stack of wash cloths. He told me to apply it to the swelling and get the heat out of my skin.

It was so effective, I was able to wear heels that night for dinner and dance in the club afterwards.

 

Those are just a few examples but I have many more.

 

So yes, I have been very lucky and like to show my gratitude with monetary rewards above and beyond the recommended amount.

[LMaxwell]

That's great and I'm not looking to start I flame war. I know why I leave a 25% tip or more in a restaurant, and why I'll only leave 15%. Why would someone, not necessarily you, leave a double tip? What do banquet servers and hotel housekeeping do for people to consider over tipping?

 

 

 

 

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My wife had misplaced a small item that she was upset about. She turned the room over for 20 minutes but couldn't find it. It was a cheapo item, but not easily replaced mid-Ocean. She mentioned it to the room steward who found it and placed it on the desk with a nice note so we could not miss it. THAT level of service, to me, warranted a generous cash tip the next time we saw the steward. It was a bit of personalized service that was not within the scope of their job but that the steward chose to do and it made my wifes whole day.

[judatt]

We were on Celebrity in a sky suite. I had ordered my wife some flowers (yes, I knew we would have some flowers in our cabin but I wanted a really nice arrangement) and they weren't in our cabin upon arrival. I mentioned to our butler that I had ordered flowers and he said he would check and almost immediately came back and said no, there was no record of flowers. I took my credit card receipt (fortunately had a copy) to guest services and they acknowledged yes I should have had a very nice arrangement. Got back to our cabin and flowers were being delivered and butler was rejecting them on our behalf - said these weren't nice enough and made them go back and do another one. Within a half hour they delivered a very nice arrangement. He got a very nice tip for all his efforts.

[Wheeling_family_of_3]

We over tipped our cabin steward and he did two things for us - one, he made towel animals every night (instead of the standard every other night) and two, my husband asked him to place rose petals all over the bed as a surprise for me. He went and collected a dozen roses from the onboard florist, pulled off the petals of enough stems to cover the bed and arranged them in a heart shape AND made a towel art of two swans touching noses. It was SO romantic and a truly above and beyond classy move on his part.

 

For others that don't have as visible of an impact, we simply enjoy knowing that they will be grateful for the extra money. We have it to give, and we really enjoy giving it. It gives us pleasure, so we do it.

[Merion_Mom]

Don't forget they get paid, get board and lodgings and get auto tips from lots of other passengers as well.

 

Going above and beyond to me is what you do in any job and you shouldn't expect to be paid or tipped more then the 'usual'.

 

They are "paid" $50 a month.

 

Their "lodgings" are a tiny cabin with no window shared with three others.

 

Their "board" is mainly chicken & rice, rice & chicken, chicken & rice, and rice & chicken.

 

They work more than eight hours a day - often MUCH more than eight hours a day - day after day after day after day..... without a day off, for months at a time.

 

They MORE than earn every penny from every passenger at the most basic level of the automatic tips. Anyone who gives less is CHEATING the staff.

 

PERIOD.

[Viv0828]

It's not the under tipping passengers who are cheating the staff, it is the underpaying cruise lines.

 

 

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[delirious9876]

They are "paid" $50 a month.

 

Their "lodgings" are a tiny cabin with no window shared with three others.

 

Their "board" is mainly chicken & rice, rice & chicken, chicken & rice, and rice & chicken.

 

They work more than eight hours a day - often MUCH more than eight hours a day - day after day after day after day..... without a day off, for months at a time.

 

They MORE than earn every penny from every passenger at the most basic level of the automatic tips. Anyone who gives less is CHEATING the staff.

 

PERIOD.

With respect, I'd dispute quite a lot of what you posted. From talking to a number of different stateroom attendants

 

- they work very very hard - I'd agree

 

- they get paid $100 per months

 

- they earn through 'usual' auto tips between $100 to $150 per day for looking after 10 staterooms depending on the occupancy (nice wage $700 to $1000 per week just in tips)

 

- their staff fayre is not too bad - it is not too bad and is an assortment of different food, not just rice and chicken

 

- the staff facilities are quite good I'm told with cheap beverages, good bars and on many ships regularly planned entertainment

 

- I agree that anyone who pays less than suggested tips is cheating them

 

PERIOD.

[caribbean sailor]

Without starting a skirmish I was wondering what your definition of above and beyond means. What anybody's definition of above and beyond means. My wife and I are very accommodating travellers, about the only request we tend to make anywhere is extra towels, we'll shower 2-3 times a day and maybe an extra pillow.

 

What does the staff and crew have to do go beyond what they are supposed to do?

 

 

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Good point The crew they are suppose to do their Jobs.I think the so called required tips,Seems to me to be a good tip.I don't like being told what to tip,but do not have a problem with the amount.We do tip the required amount, but we hand it out to crew,not to Royal Caribbean.As always tip the way you want.And stop worrying about what others do.:)